How do I know if my iphone has successfully been backed up to my iTunes? I plugged it in and it said it backed up and I did a sync, but when I am looking through the summary page and I am not sure that all of my data got backed up. Please help!!

Question

How do I know if my iphone has successfully been backed up to my iTunes? I plugged it in and it said it backed up and I did a sync, but when I am looking through the summary page and I am not sure that all of my data got backed up. Please help!!

I have never backed up my iphone to my itunes because I always used the cloud. However, a few months ago, my wifi disk in my phone burned out so the Apple Store told me to back up everything to my itunes. I am going today to get the iphone 6 so I connected my phone (iphone 4S) to my itunes and I backed up and synced. However, when I look throughout the summary page and click in different areas (Photos, Movies), I don't see any of my data -- it is still asking me to Sync from iPhoto or to sync from another location. By backing up & syncing my phone, did all of my data get saved? Or do I still need to do more steps?

Sorry for the long winded question, I am just so nervous to get a new phone and plug it in to be restored and not have any of my pictures, videos or contacts, etc. Any help would be so so appreciated!

iPhone 4

Posted on Jan 10, 2015 7:43 AM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Jan 10, 2015 7:47 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

A backup saves the setting on your iPhone for transfer or restore to an iPhone. It is not viewable on your computer.

It does not backup everything.

You should import your pics to your computer as you would with any digital camera, and you should transfer any iTunes purchases to your computer.

Make sure that you are storing your contacts and calendars on your computer and/or cloud service.

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Answer 2

Jan 10, 2015 7:52 AM in response to roaminggnome

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help!! I may need a little more clarification though!

Right now it wants to sync all of my photos from my iPhoto and I have close to 17,000 photos. What if I do not want ALL of my photos to sync, only my photos I take on my actual iPhone -- no pictures from my digital camera and other sources? Also, how do I know if my videos have been backed up and saved in iTunes as well? They wouldn't fall under "Movies" on the Summary page, would they? Either way, I can't tell if those have been backed up either :-(

How do I know if I have backed up my contacts in my iTunes? I would have used the cloud but my wifi disk burned out a few months ago so I have been unable to save anything to the cloud for the last 6 months so I thin saving to iTunes is my only hope!

Any further information you can give me would be so wonderful - thank you thank you!

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jan 10, 2015 8:18 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

Ideally, you don’t want to back up the photos that are on your iPhone Camera Roll.

You want to transfer them to iPhoto on your computer and delete them from your Camera Roll on the iPhone.

Then, using iTunes, you can sync only the photos you want back to the iPhone.

Right now it wants to sync all of my photos from my iPhoto and I have close to 17,000 photos. What if I do not want ALL of my photos to sync, only my photos I take on my actual iPhone -

Create an album of those photos in iPhoto and sync only that album.

How do I know if I have backed up my contacts in my iTunes?

They should be sync’d with your Contacts app.

I would have used the cloud but my wifi disk burned out a few months ago so I have been unable to save anything to the cloud for the last 6 months so I thin saving to iTunes is my only hope!

Your contacts, calendars, etc. will sync with iCloud via wifi or cellular data.

You can sync via USB.

Select your iPhone in iTunes then click the Info tab.

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Answer 4

Jan 10, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Chris CA

Thank you again for all of your help!! I really appreciate it!

I think I am following -- I was able to upload to my iPhoto and all photos and videos are there that is a plus! I tried to create an Event in my iPhoto and put all of my photos in that event but for some reason, now my iTunes it not recognizing that Event in my iPhoto. It is not allowing me to import just that event at the moment but I may be doing something wrong. At least all of my pics and vids are in iPhoto so that is a plus and I know they are at least saved somewhere. Just for some reason, my iTunes it not locating the event that I created with only those photos.

Thank you for letting me know about my contacts! How do I know if I have the contacts app?

Also, I had no clue that my iCloud could be backed up via cellular data! However, is this a new feature with the most updated iOS?? Unforutnatly I am like 2 iOS updates behind because I don't have enough storage on my phone. I still get the notification that my phone needs to be plugged in and connected to wifi in order to back up to the cloud :-(

How can I sync using USB? Right now when i click on the info tab for my iPhone in my iTunes this is the answer that I get -- I am a little unclear as to what it means.

Sync Contacts:

Your contacts are being synced with you iPhone over the air from iCloud. Over-the-air sync settings can be changed on you iPhone

Sync Calendars:

Your calendars are being synced with you iPhone over the air from iCloud. Over-the-air sync settings can be changed on you iPhone

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jan 10, 2015 8:55 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

dannyledonofrio wrote:

Thank you for letting me know about my contacts! How do I know if I have the contacts app?

If you have a Mac and an iPhone, you have a Contacts app on both.

Also, I had no clue that my iCloud could be backed up via cellular data

You don’t backup to iCloud via cellualr.

You sync data using cellular.

On your iPhone, go to Settings > iCloud to enable iCloud syncing.

On your Mac, go to System Prefs >iCloud to enable iCloud syncing.

Any changes to these items on iPhone or computer will automatically get changed on the other.

Sync is not backup.

How can I sync using USB? Right now when i click on the info tab for my iPhone in my iTunes this is the answer that I get -- I am a little unclear as to what it means.

Sync Contacts:

Your contacts are being synced with you iPhone over the air from iCloud. Over-the-air sync settings can be changed on you iPhone

Sync Calendars:

Your calendars are being synced with you iPhone over the air from iCloud. Over-the-air sync settings can be changed on you iPhone

This is because you are already syncing this data via cellular data to the computer. You don’t need to sync this data using iTunes.

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Answer 6

ManSinha

Level 6

12,183 points

Jan 10, 2015 9:02 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

The Contacts App comes preloaded on the Apple iPhones

You can use Spotlight search to locate it - or go into your phone app - it is embedded there as well

I do both of the things you alluded

My device syncs to iCLoud every night - presumably when it is plugged in and on my home WiFi

Also once a week I connect it to a Windows 7/8 computer and back it up to iTunes -

There are differences between what backs up to the Cloud - you can select it on your phone - and what is stored on iTunes

Also - like has been mentioned - if you have purchases - make sure they are transferred to iTunes as well

It can be somewhat nerve wracking so feel free to ask as many questions as you would like

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Answer 7

Jan 10, 2015 9:09 AM in response to Chris CA

Thank you thank you so much!! Yes it does appear that I am already syncing via cellar data! I think I am starting to understand and I really hope that I am doing this correctly!

Also, I think I was able to backup and sync only the photos & vids I want to my iTunes....at least I think I did it so I am hoping it worked!

Thanks again for everything!!

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Answer 8

Jan 10, 2015 9:14 AM in response to ManSinha

Thank as well for all your help! yes it is completely nerve wracking and I just get scared that I will get my new phone and not have saved or backed up everything that I had from this phone.

I have transferred my purchases to iTunes so I should be good there and I think I did my photos and videos correctly -- I think! This is the part that I am still nervous I am doing wrong but at least they are saved on my computer so I have them! Once I get my new phone, I will begin to use the Cloud again and back up every night like you mentioned. That truly has been the easiest and hassle free way to save everything so I was so bummed when I was unable to do that about 6 months ago.

I think I am ready to go get my new phone -- I may have some questions once I am trying to Restore it using iTunes once I get home but for now I think I am at a good spot.

Have you ever restored a new phone using iTunes? Has the transfer been somewhat easy? Any advice on how to make sure I set up my new phone correctly would be great!

Thank you thank you so very very much!!

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Answer 9

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jan 10, 2015 9:17 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

dannyledonofrio wrote:

Thank as well for all your help! yes it is completely nerve wracking and I just get scared that I will get my new phone and not have saved or backed up everything that I had from this phone.

See this -> Transfer content from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a new device - Apple Support

scroll about halfway down to where is says, “Use iTunes"

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Answer 10

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Jan 10, 2015 9:17 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

Read this to understand about backups and what is backed up

The link to iCloud back up is within the document

Create and delete iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups in iTunes - Apple Support

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Answer 11

ManSinha

Level 6

12,183 points

Jan 10, 2015 9:50 AM in response to dannyledonofrio

dannyledonofrio wrote:

Have you ever restored a new phone using iTunes? Has the transfer been somewhat easy? Any advice on how to make sure I set up my new phone correctly would be great!

Thank you thank you so very very much!!

Yes I have - been on the iPhone since 3GS so yes - have been through a couple iterations for me and other family members as have several others on this forum. Chris gives you great advice or we can chime in for specific questions when you have the phone in hand

Good luck!

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